Snow thrower with an ergonomic handle

ABSTRACT

A snow thrower apparatus for removing snow from the ground. The snow thrower apparatus includes a snow thrower housing having a top wall, a rear wall and side walls. The snow thrower housing includes a rotatable snow throwing impeller assembly. A portion of the snow thrower housing forms a directional chute having a plurality of movable blades for throwing snow in a forward or sideward direction during operational use thereof. The directional chute includes a directional track having a control knob thereon to move the plurality of movable blades in a left or right direction. The snow thrower apparatus also includes an ergonomic handle connected to the snow thrower housing for pushing the snow thrower apparatus through the snow; and wheels detachably connected to the snow thrower housing for moving the snow thrower apparatus on the ground.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a snow thrower with an ergonomic benthandle. More particularly, the snow thrower includes a directional chutehaving a plurality of movable blades for directing snow removal from thesnow thrower to the left or right direction or the forward directionduring operational use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Snow throwers, snow blowers, and snow removal apparatus are well knownin the art. In the northern U.S. snow accumulation is quite common onthe ground in relatively large amounts. It is necessary to clear thesnow from sidewalks, driveways, paths and the like of homes, commercialbuildings and industrial complexes. More particularly, snow removal isoften required simply to have easy access to the user's home and toallow the user's car to be removed from the driveway.

Various types of snow removal machines, commonly referred to as snowblowers or snow throwers, have been developed and used in place ofmanual snow shoveling. These devices usually include a housing havingsome type of snow impelling mechanism, e.g. a rotatable rotor or auger.The mechanism throws or blows the snow outwardly from the housing to apoint remote from the ground area being cleared. Many of the prior artsnow blowers have been relatively heavy. Wheels or rollers have beenattached to the housing to allow the snow blower to be rolled or steeredover the ground. Some of these snow blowers were so heavy that thesewheels were driven by a drive motor. However, these types of snowblowers were difficult to handle and steer, especially on a slipperysurface such as snow. Users have been deterred from using them becauseof these problems. In addition, the complexity and weight of the snowblowers increases their costs rendering them uneconomical for users whodo not have large areas of ground to be cleared of snow.

Small electrically operated snow throwers, and snow blowers have beendeveloped to replace the more conventional manual shovels and the largermotorized snow blowers or snow throwers currently in use. This type ofsnow thrower is configured to act much like a shovel and is operated bythe user in a manner similar to a shovel. This type of snow thrower hasa small housing at one end of an elongated handle that extends upwardlyfrom the housing. The housing includes a relatively open reel-typeimpeller and a small electric motor for rotating the impeller. A scraperbar is provided adjacent the bottom edge of the rear wall of the housingto allow the housing to bite into the snow. The rear wall of the housingalso includes a guide section and an acuate portion which conforms tothe periphery of the impeller. As the impeller rotates, the blades ofthe impeller contact and move the snow through the housing andeventually throw the snow up along the guide section of the rear wall toa position distally located from the snow thrower.

There remains a need for an improved snow thrower apparatus having adirectional chute with a plurality of movable blades therein fordirecting the snow removal from the snow thrower to the left or rightdirection, as well as the forward direction during operational use. Inaddition, the snow thrower apparatus may include an ergonomic handlehaving a bent shaft for increased maneuverability for moving the snowthrower apparatus through the snow with a minimal physical effort by theuser.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a snowthrower apparatus having an ergonomic handle having a bent shaft forincreased maneuverability of moving the snow thrower through snow.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a snow throwerapparatus having a directional chute with a plurality of movable bladesmounted in a directional track for throwing snow in a forward orsideward direction.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a snow throwerapparatus having a full-sized handle support assembly with an electricalplug outlet and ignition key compartment pad attached thereto.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a snow throwerapparatus having a heavy-duty plastic snow thrower housing that canwithstand temperatures in the range of −30° C. to 66° C.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a snow throwerapparatus that is easily maintained, easy to clean and use and operatesin a safe manner.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a snow throwerthat can be mass produced in an automated and economical manner and isreadily affordable by the user.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Snow throwers, snow blowers and snow removers having various designs,structures, configurations and materials of construction have beendisclosed in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,325,195 toCOMBER discloses a snow thrower having an impeller with forward facingblades which extends a short distance inward from the periphery of theimpeller. The snow thrower also includes a deflector vane assemblyhaving a plurality of deflector vanes being laterally movable by adeflector plate. The deflector plate is also laterally movable withrespect to the rear wall by means of a linkage assembly. The linkagepivots about a centrally-located point in order to deflect the pluralityof deflector vanes to the right, center or left in order to permit aforward or sideward deflection of snow during snow throwing. This priorart patent does not disclose or teach the same structure, configurationand design of the plurality of movable blades for directing snow removalfrom the snow blower as in the present invention.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,163,986 to TOWNSEND discloses a non-motorized machinefor throwing snow or other debris. The machine includes a framesupported by at least one wheel that activates at least one rotatingblade or brush when the machine is pushed forward. The machine alsoincludes a pivoting mechanism which allows an operator to direct thethrown snow/debris to either side by pivoting the blade or brush. Thehousing and blade pivot together as a unit. An adjustment lever and apivot lock are provided to facilitate the pivoting action. This priorart patent does not disclose or teach the same structure, configurationand design of the plurality of movable blades for directing snow removalfrom the snow blower as in the present invention.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,295,285 to STEVENS discloses a snow thrower including ahousing having rotatable impeller therein. The rotation of the impellermoves the snow through the housing and ejects the snow upwardly withsufficient force to throw the snow to a point distally located from thesnow blower. This prior art patent does not disclose or teach the samestructure, configuration and design of the snow blower of the presentinvention.

None of these prior art patents teach or disclose a snow throwerapparatus having an ergonomic handle and a directional chute withmovable blades mounted in a directional track for throwing snow in aforward or sideward direction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a snowthrower apparatus for removing snow from the ground. The snow throwerapparatus includes a snow thrower housing having a top wall, a rear walland side walls. The snow thrower housing includes a rotatable snowthrowing impeller assembly. A portion of the snow thrower housing formsa directional chute having a plurality of movable blades for throwingsnow in a forward or sideward direction during operational use thereof.The directional chute includes a directional track having a control knobthereon to move the plurality of movable blades in a left or rightdirection. The snow thrower apparatus also includes an ergonomic handleconnected to the snow thrower housing for pushing the snow throwerapparatus through the snow; and wheels detachably connected to the snowthrower housing for moving the snow thrower apparatus on the ground.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent upon the consideration of the following detaileddescription of the presently preferred embodiment when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the snow thrower apparatus with anergonomic handle of the preferred embodiment of the present inventionshowing the major component parts of the apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the snow thrower apparatus of thepresent invention showing a snow thrower housing having a directionalchute with a plurality of movable blades maintained in a directionaltrack and a rotatable snow throwing impeller assembly;

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the snow thrower apparatus of thepresent invention showing the snow thrower housing, the directionalchute having a movable control knob and a portion of a handle shaft;

FIG. 4 is a bottom elevational view of the snow thrower apparatus of thepresent invention showing the directional chute, the plurality ofmovable blades within the directional track and the rotatable snowthrowing impeller assembly;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the snow thrower apparatus of thepresent invention taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 1 in the direction ofthe arrows showing a motor, a pulley system and the snow throwerhousing;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the snow thrower apparatus ofthe present invention showing all of the major component parts containedtherein;

FIG. 6 a is a perspective view of the snow thrower apparatus of thepresent invention showing the directional track and control push rodknob contained therein; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the snow thrower apparatus of thepresent invention showing a handle member having a ignition key pad andan electrical plug member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The snow thrower apparatus 10 and its component parts of the preferredembodiment of the present invention is represented in detail by FIGS. 1through 6 and 6 a of the patent drawings. The snow thrower apparatus 10is used for removing snow 12 from the ground 14.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the snow thrower apparatus 10 includes a snowthrower housing 20 having a top wall 22, a rear wall 24 and side walls26 and 28. The snow thrower housing 20 includes a rotatable snowthrowing impeller assembly 30. The impeller assembly 30 includes aplurality of snow removing blades 32, and end covers 34 a and 34 b fordetachably connecting to the opposing side walls 26 and 28, as shown inFIGS. 2 and 4 of the patent drawings. Each of the end covers 34 a and 34b include shaft elements 36 a and 36 b being centrally positioned oneach of the end covers 34 a and 34 b, respectively, as depicted in FIG.6. Shaft element 36 b is detachably connected to an electrical motor 40,as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawings. In addition, as shown inFIGS. 5 and 6, the electrical motor 40 further includes a first pulley42, a second pulley 43 and a third pulley 44 and a pulley belt 46. Snowthrower housing 20 further includes a first covering 48, and a second(motor) covering 49 for side walls 26 and 28, respectively.

A portion of the snow thrower housing 20 forms a directional chute 50.The directional chute 50 is formed by integrally connecting the top wall22, a section of the rear wall 24 and side walls 26 and 28 with eachother, as shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 6 of the drawings. The directionalchute 50 includes a directional track 52 having a plurality of movableblades 54 a 54 b, 54 c, 54 d and 54 e thereon. The directional track 52is mounted within a track opening 56 of top wall 22. Each movable blade54 a to 54 e has a first pivot pin 55 a and a second pin 55 b, whereinthe first pivot pin 55 a pivots relative to wall 22 and second pin 55 bmoves on the directional track 52 in either the left or rightdirections, as each blade 54 a to 54 e pivots relative to its firstpivot pin 55 a, as shown in FIG. 6 a of the drawings. The directionaltrack 52 is movable in the left or right directions within track opening56 via a movable (push rod) control knob 58. The control knob 58 enablesthe movable blades 54 a to 54 e to pivot to either the left or rightdirection about pivot pin 55 a, in a 90° degree arc, as depicted in FIG.6 a of the drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, the rear wall 24 of snow thrower housing20 further includes a first wheel well 60 and a second wheel well 62 forwheels 61 and 63, respectively, therein. Additionally, the rear wall 24of snow thrower housing 20 also includes a scraper blade 64 detachablyconnected to a rear wall edge 24 e, as depicted in FIGS. 2, 4 and 6 ofthe drawings. Rear wall 24 of snow thrower housing 20 additionallyincludes an integrally attached conically-shaped handle holding member66 having a shaft opening 68 for receiving a distal end 72 of a benthandle shaft 74 therein of an ergonomic handle assembly 70.

The ergonomic handle assembly 70 includes a bent hollow handle shaft 74having a first detachable hollow section 76 with a distal end 72 andhaving a second hollow detachable section 78 with a proximal end 73.First detachable section 76 includes an inner first end 77 and thesecond detachable section 78 includes an inner second end 79. Each ofthe inner first and second ends 77 and 79 are joined together using aconnector member 75 to form the bent handle shaft 74. The proximal end73 of the second detachable section 78 includes a handle member 80.Handle member 80 includes an electrical plug outlet element 82 and anignition key pad member 84. The electrical plug outlet element 82 andthe ignition key pad member 84 are electrically connected to theelectrical motor 40 by an electrical line 85. The electrical line 85 isreceived within the bent hollow handle shaft 74 and the snow throwerhousing 20. The second detachable section 78 includes a removable anddetachably connected gripping member 86 having an adjustment tab element88 thereon, as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 6 of the drawings.

OPERATION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

In operating the snow thrower apparatus 10, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 ofthe patent drawings, the user adjusts the push rod control knob 58 onthe directional track 52 for moving the plurality of movable blades 54 ato 54 e to a left direction, a right direction or a straight (centered)position for directing the snow removal to a sideward direction or aforward direction, respectively. The user now connects an electricalextension cord 16 to the electrical plug outlet 82, where then the userthen pushes or turns on the ignition key pad 84 via key 18 to start thesnow thrower apparatus 10. The user then proceeds to push the snowthrower apparatus 10 by the handle member 80 and gripping member 86 inorder to remove the excess snow 12 from the ground 14, as shown in FIG.1 of the drawings.

ADVANTAGES OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Accordingly, an advantage of the present invention is that it providesfor a snow thrower apparatus having an ergonomic handle having a bentshaft for increased maneuverability of moving the snow thrower throughsnow.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides for asnow thrower apparatus having a directional chute with a plurality ofmovable blades mounted in a directional track for throwing snow in aforward or sideward direction.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides for asnow thrower apparatus having a full-sized handle support assembly withan electrical plug outlet and ignition key compartment pad attachedthereto.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides for asnow thrower apparatus having a heavy-duty plastic snow thrower housingthat can withstand temperatures in the range of −30° C. to 66° C.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides for asnow thrower apparatus that is easily maintained, easy to clean and useand operates in a safe manner.

A further advantage of the present invention is that it provides for asnow thrower that can be mass produced in an automated and economicalmanner and is readily affordable by the user.

A latitude of modification, change, and substitution is intended in theforegoing disclosure, and in some instances, some features of theinvention will be employed without a corresponding use of otherfeatures. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims beconstrued broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scopeof the invention herein.

1. A snow thrower apparatus for removing snow from the ground,comprising: a) a snow thrower housing having a top wall, a rear wall andside walls; b) said snow thrower housing including a rotatable snowthrowing impeller assembly; c) a portion of said snow thrower housingforming a directional chute having a plurality of movable blades forthrowing snow in a forward or sideward direction during operational usethereof; d) said directional chute including a directional track havingmoving means to move said plurality of movable blades in a left or rightdirection; e) an ergonomic handle assembly connected to said snowthrower housing for pushing said snow thrower apparatus through thesnow; and f) wheels detachably connected to said snow thrower housingfor moving said snow thrower apparatus on the ground.
 2. A snow throwerapparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said moving means includesa movable push rod control knob.
 3. A snow thrower apparatus inaccordance with claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of movableblades have a first pivot pin and a second pin movable in saiddirectional track for pivoting said blades in either said left or rightdirections.
 4. A snow thrower apparatus in accordance with claim 1,wherein said rotatable snow throwing impeller assembly is electricallyconnected to an electrical motor.
 5. A snow thrower apparatus inaccordance with claim 1, wherein said directional track is mountedwithin a track opening on said top wall of said snow thrower.
 6. A snowthrower apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said snow throwerhousing includes a scraper blade detachably connected to a rear walledge of said housing.
 7. A snow thrower apparatus in accordance withclaim 1, wherein said snow thrower housing includes a pair ofspaced-apart wheel wells for receiving each of said wheels,respectively, therein.
 8. A snow thrower apparatus in accordance withclaim 1, wherein said ergonomic handle assembly includes a bent hollowhandle shaft having a first detachable hollow section with a distal endand having a second detachable hollow section with a proximal end.
 9. Asnow thrower apparatus in accordance with claim 8, wherein said firstdetachable hollow section includes an inner first end and said seconddetachable hollow section includes an inner second end.
 10. A snowthrower apparatus in accordance with claim 9, wherein each of said innerfirst and second ends are joined using a connector member to form saidbent hollow handle shaft.
 11. A snow thrower apparatus in accordancewith claim 1, wherein said rear wall of said snow thrower housingincludes an attached handle holding member having a shaft openingtherein.
 12. A snow thrower apparatus in accordance with claim 11,wherein said handle holding member is conically-shaped.
 13. A snowthrower apparatus in accordance with claim 11, wherein said shaftopening of said handle holding member for receiving said distal end ofsaid first detachable hollow section of said bent hollow handle shafttherein.
 14. A snow thrower apparatus in accordance with claim 8,wherein said proximal end of said second detachable hollow section ofsaid bent hollow handle shaft for receiving a handle member thereon. 15.A snow thrower apparatus in accordance with claim 14, wherein saidhandle members includes an electrical plug outlet member and an ignitionkey pad member thereon.
 16. A snow thrower apparatus in accordance withclaim 8, wherein said second detachable hollow section includes adetachably connected gripping member having an adjustment tab elementthereon for adjusting said gripping member along said second detachablehollow section.
 17. A snow thrower apparatus in accordance with claim15, wherein said electrical plug outlet member and said ignition key padmember are electrically connected to said electrical motor by anelectrical line.
 18. A snow thrower apparatus in accordance with claim17, wherein said electrical line is received within said bent hollowhandle shaft and said snow thrower housing.
 19. A snow thrower apparatusin accordance with claim 1, wherein said snow thrower housing is madefrom heavy-duty durable plastic that can withstand temperatures in therange of −30° C. to 66° C.
 20. A snow thrower apparatus in accordancewith claim 3, wherein each of said plurality of movable blades move ineither said left or right directions in a 90° degree arc.